Ben Szalinski

Bio

Ben is The Daily Line's legislative reporter covering Illinois state government. He came to The Daily Line in January 2022 from Shaw Media where he covered local government in McHenry County for the Northwest Herald. Ben is a graduate of the Public Affair
NOV 16, 2022
Left, Rep. Tony McCombie (R-Savanna), and right, Sen. John Curran (R-Downers Grove) will be the new Republican caucus leaders.

Both the House and Senate Republican caucuses will change their leaders when the new General Assembly is sworn in in January after members took a pair of private votes Tuesday night.

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Curran ousts McConchie, McCombie follows Durkin as Republicans shake up General Assembly leadership 

Left, Rep. Tony McCombie (R-Savanna), and right, Sen. John Curran (R-Downers Grove) will be the n...
NOV 16, 2022

The Workers Rights Amendment was declared passed Tuesday, according to the Associated Press. And the Senate Executive Committee passed a bill banning state investments in Russian assets.

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News in brief: Workers Rights Amendment passes; Senate committee approves ban on Russian investments

The Workers Rights Amendment was declared passed Tuesday, according to the Associated Press. And ...
NOV 15, 2022
The Illinois State Capitol

Lawmakers will return to Springfield Tuesday for the first of likely five session days scheduled for the remainder of 2022 just a week after elections dealt blows to the Republican Party. Several issues could be brought up during the session, though Democrats will continue to have a super majority next year.

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General Assembly returns to Springfield with several issues on tap a week after election shakes up membership

The Illinois State Capitol Lawmakers will return to Springfield Tuesday for the first of likely f...
NOV 14, 2022
Illinois State Capitol

Democrats will maintain their super majorities in the General Assembly for at least another two years after stamping out any hint of a “red wave” in Illinois.

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House Dems add to their ranks while Senate Dems preserve super majority

Illinois State Capitol Democrats will maintain their super majorities in the General Assembly for...
NOV 11, 2022
Supporters of Amendment 1 speak at a news conference in Chicago in late October.   

An amendment to the Illinois Constitution to make collective bargaining a constitutional right was on track to pass, though its success will not be officially determined until the State Board of Elections certifies the results.

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Constitutional right for collective bargaining positioned for narrow passage

Supporters of Amendment 1 speak at a news conference in Chicago in late October.    An amendment ...
NOV 10, 2022
Gov. JB Pritzker enters the Marriott Marquis Hotel ballroom in Chicago on Election Day. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line] 

After a passionate victory speech Tuesday night that included direct references to former President Donald Trump and criticisms of the Republican Party, Pritzker insisted he is focused on his next four years as governor after completing a solid victory over Republican challenger Sen. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia).

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Pritzker ready ‘to get back to work’ in second term he says he plans to complete

Gov. JB Pritzker enters the Marriott Marquis Hotel ballroom in Chicago on Election Day. [Ben Szal...
NOV 10, 2022
House Minority Leader Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs) speaks at a news conference in October.  

Republican House Minority Leader Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs) will not run for another term as his caucus’ leader, Durkin announced Wednesday morning after a disastrous election for House Republicans.

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House GOP Leader Durkin will not run for caucus leader again after rough election for House GOP

House Minority Leader Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs) speaks at a news conference in October.   Re...
NOV 09, 2022
Gov. JB Pritzker celebrates winning a second term as governor at the Marriott Marquis in Chicago Tuesday night. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line]

Gov. JB Pritzker won a second term as governor Tuesday night defeating Republican challenger Sen. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia) 55 percent to 42 percent as of 10 p.m. Tuesday.

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Pritzker wins second term with 13-point win over Bailey, who concedes

Gov. JB Pritzker celebrates winning a second term as governor at the Marriott Marquis in Chicago ...
NOV 09, 2022
From left to right, Alexi Giannoulias, Susana Mendoza, Mike Frerichs and Kwame Raoul. 

Tuesday appeared to be a successful Election Day for Illinois Democrats as they are expected to keep their majority in the Supreme Court and the proposed Workers’ Rights Amendment appeared to finish the night with plenty of support.

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Election results: Giannoulias to succeed White as statewide Dems put on a strong night; Casten prevails over Pekau

From left to right, Alexi Giannoulias, Susana Mendoza, Mike Frerichs and Kwame Raoul.  Tuesday ap...
NOV 08, 2022
Gov. JB Pritzker, left, and Sen. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia), right, campaign in September. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line] 

Months of speculation, talking points and goals will be decided Tuesday night in races for offices throughout Illinois that have grabbed voters’ attention for positions on key issues, big spending or controversial statements.

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NOV 08, 2022
Republican attorney general candidate Tom DeVore, center, and Republican nominee for governor Sen. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia), left, celebrate with rally goers in Oak Brook Monday. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line]  

Republican nominee for attorney general Tom DeVore and Republican nominee for governor Sen. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia) first teamed up on lawsuits opposing COVID-19 mitigations at the beginning of the pandemic when much was still unknown about the virus.

Over two years later, the candidates again teamed up on the final day of their campaigns to announce their opposition to any proposed COVID-19 vaccination requirement in Illinois schools.

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Bailey, DeVore close campaigns the same way they started: opposing COVID-19 mitigations, this time vaccines for schools 

Republican attorney general candidate Tom DeVore, center, and Republican nominee for governor Sen...
NOV 07, 2022
Gov. JB Pritzker, left, greets Vice President Kamala Harris at a campaign rally in Chicago’s Washington Park neighborhood Sunday. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line]  

Vice President Kamala Harris visited Chicago for the second time in less than two months to stump for Gov. JB Pritzker just two days before voters will decide whether Pritzker should get a second term as governor.

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Pritzker enlists help from VP Harris for second time this year as governor makes his final case to voters for a second term

Gov. JB Pritzker, left, greets Vice President Kamala Harris at a campaign rally in Chicago’s Wash...
NOV 07, 2022
Left, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) speaks at a news conference with Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau in Oak Brook Friday. Center, President Joe Biden speaks in Joliet Saturday. Right, U.S. Rep. Sean Casten (D-Ill.) speaks to reporters following a townhall meeting in Oak Brook Friday. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line & White House]

Top national leaders including President Joe Biden traveled to the suburbs to stump for congressional candidates in tight races Friday and Saturday just days before voters will decide which party will control Congress for the next two years.

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Tight congressional races attract attention from top D.C. leaders

Left, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) speaks at a news conference with Orland Par...
NOV 04, 2022
Sen. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia) speaks at a news conference at the Chicago Fraternal Order of Police in August. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line]

On a February 2021 night in Effingham less than one year after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, first-term Sen. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia) announced he would challenge Gov. JB Pritzker in 2022.

“We've tried the country club approach. We've tried the Chicago Loop approach. And I don't think that's worked for anyone in this room,” Bailey told supporters at his campaign kickoff.

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Bailey makes final pitches to voters after rising from little-known representative to Republican nominee for governor

Sen. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia) speaks at a news conference at the Chicago Fraternal Order of Police...
NOV 04, 2022

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris announced they will make separate visits to Illinois this weekend. Republican Senate nominee Kathy Salvi announced her campaign agreed to a resolution on misprinted Schuyler County ballots. And Sen. Terri Bryant (R-Murphysboro) wrote an emotional letter imploring residents in the 19th Senate District to vote against Sen. Michael Hastings (D-Frankfurt).

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NOV 03, 2022
Republican attorney general candidate Tom DeVore, left, and Democratic Attorney General Kwame Raoul, right. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line]  

Crime has been a top issue in the race for Illinois’ chief law enforcement office as Republican challenger Tom DeVore clashes with Attorney General Kwame Raoul over the SAFE-T Act while Raoul focuses on legislative efforts to crack down on crime in Illinois.

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Crime takes center stage in race for attorney general — an office with a diverse set of responsibilities

Republican attorney general candidate Tom DeVore, left, and Democratic Attorney General Kwame Rao...
NOV 02, 2022
A tabulation machine reflects a counted ballot during the public testing of tabulation machines at the Lake County Clerk’s Office Tuesday. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line]

Unfounded election conspiracies continue to swirl throughout the country as candidates cast doubt on the validity of election processes, but Illinois’ election process contains many safeguards and procedures that make rigging an election virtually impossible.

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Despite doubts, Illinois’ election process filled with safeguards to prevent fraud 

A tabulation machine reflects a counted ballot during the public testing of tabulation machines a...
NOV 01, 2022
Comptroller Susana Mendoza, left, and McHenry County Auditor Shannon Teresi, right.

Multiple credit upgrades, on-time bill payments and investments into pensions and the “rainy day” fund have given Comptroller Susana Mendoza a lot to run on after nearly six years as the state’s chief financial officer.

“I think our message here, what I’ve been able to deliver for Illinois, is a message that all Democrats across the country should be trying to emulate and talk about because this is the message: it’s the Democratic Party here in Illinois that has turned around the state’s financial ship,” Mendoza told The Daily Line.

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Mendoza confidently running on improved state finances as opponent tries to cast doubt on progress 

Comptroller Susana Mendoza, left, and McHenry County Auditor Shannon Teresi, right. Multiple cred...
NOV 01, 2022
Former U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii speaks at a rally for Sen. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia) in Glen Ellyn Monday. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line] 

With a week before polls close on Election Day, Republican nominee for governor Sen. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia) grabbed assistance from former Democrat and presidential contender Tulsi Gabbard at a rally in Glen Ellyn Monday.

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Bailey enlists help from former Democratic presidential candidate Gabbard in last minute push for governorship

Former U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii speaks at a rally for Sen. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia) in Gl...
OCT 31, 2022
Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), right, speaks with union members in Joliet Friday. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line]

Support for Amendment 1, also known as the Workers’ Rights Amendment, extends up to Illinois’ federal representatives who believe passing the amendment would boost the state’s competitiveness in the nation’s economy.

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Duckworth, Underwood lend support to Amendment 1 as boost for state’s competitiveness

Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), right, speaks with union members in Joliet Friday. [Ben Szalinski/...

Bio

Ben is The Daily Line's legislative reporter covering Illinois state government. He came to The Daily Line in January 2022 from Shaw Media where he covered local government in McHenry County for the Northwest Herald. Ben is a graduate of the Public Affair